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Helianthus debilis subsp. cucumerifolius
This subspecies has a broad distribution that extends west into Texas and north into northern New England.  It is found broadly but sporatically in Florida.  Our map shows where herbarium specimens have been submitted, but it should be appropriate to plant this plant almost anywhere in the northern 2/3 of the state.   To avoid inbreeding, do not plant this subspecies in a common garden with either the east- or west-coast dune sunflower. Beach-front gardens.  Wildflower gardens. Groundcover.
  • Dense canopy
  • Slender and elegant
  • Iconic symbol of the south
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Helianthus radula
Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
  • Not as popular as it once was
  • Showy creamy white flowers
  • Highly nutritious fruit
  • Relatively compact and narrow canopy
  • Striking silhouette
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Aralia spinosa
FNPS Blog article Specimen plant or background hedge.
  • Slow Growth
  • Wonderfully fragrant at night
  • Easily trimmed to maintain desired size
  • Symmetrical shape
  • Narrow enough for tight spaces
  • Fragrant clusters of flowers in fall
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Crataegus michauxii
Not much information is available on growing this species. Likely to be somewhat difficult to establish but very durable once established. Specimen plant. Retain if present on site.
  • Not recommended
  • Readily pruned into attractive shapes
  • Showy creamy white flowers
  • Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
  • Majestic, sprawling canopy
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Varronia globosa
Background shrub.
  • Not recommended
  • Readily pruned into attractive shapes
  • Elegant and compact
  • Salt tolerant
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Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis
Seeds float and can be dispersed by water. Noted as a sand stabilizer being one of the first plants to colonize active dunes. Pan-tropical. Makes a nice groundcover in an informal dry yard. In nature, it is an important stabilizer of beach dunes.
  • Uncommon edible fruit
  • Relatively uncommon in South Florida
  • Showy clusters orange-yellow fruits in spring
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Coreopsis nudata
This is one of the few pink tickseeds. Wet garden areas. This species will persist only if conditions remain moist.
  • No longer recommended
  • Highly wind tolerant
  • Pineapple-like showy fruits (female plants)
  • Critically endangered
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Bidens laevis
Depending on the weather, this may be either an annual or perennial in Florida. Informal gardens in wet sites.
  • Tall and romantic
  • Fruit attracts wildlife
  • Striking symmetrical appearance
  • Unique and prized
  • Beloved in South Florida
  • Grows tall, but not massive
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Each stem has soft, fleshy green flanges running longitudinally down its length. When winter weather brings ice, the stems exude water that freezes into fascinating shapes, hence its common name frostweed. Background plant in a wildflower garden. Also useful as a mass planting along a forest edge. This plant is best used in informal settings and does well if allowed to naturalize.
  • Long-lived perennial
  • Flowers year round
  • Tall and stately
  • Narrow crown
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Amorpha fruticosa
Multistemmed shrub that can form small thickets. Plant as a screen, hedge, or background plant.
  • Requires shade when young
  • Colorful older leaves
  • Symmetrical shape
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Taxus floridana
This tree has male and female plants. Females have red berry-like cones. This species is extremely rare.  Be sure to obtain this plant from properly licensed nurseries. Use as a specimen plant either as a small tree or large shrub.
  • Magnificent showy flowers in summer
  • Hummingbird favorite
  • Distinctive-looking fruit with spiked exterior
  • Massive, nutrient-dense edible fruit
  • Unique foliage and silhouette
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Lupinus diffusus
Given that this is short-lived (biennial) and difficult to transplant or grow from seed, this is perhaps best encouraged in places where it grows naturally.  Minimizing competition from other plants, and perhaps burning the garden area, may be useful.  This plant appears to have a seedbank with seeds that may sprout over an extended period of years if conditions are right. The range of this plant in Florida appears to be disjunct though how much of this is due to site conditions and how much could be an artifact of forestry practices is unknown. Wildflower garden where it can be used as a specimen plant.
  • Very full crown
  • Attractive symmetrical appearance
  • Majestic and graceful
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Coccoloba diversifolia
Shade tree.  Narrow crown is said to make it a good choice for avenues, narrow entryways, and areas between houses.  Can be used as a large container plant.
  • Elegant and compact
  • Cornerstone plant in South Florida
  • Deciduous
  • Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
  • Unique, sweet, almond-like flavor
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Quercus lyrata
Its acorn is large (about an inch long) and is nearly enclosed by its cup or receptacle--hence the name "overcup." Shade tree.
  • Dense, full crown
  • Long-lasting year-round blooms
  • Slow Growth
  • Readily pruned into attractive shapes
  • Elegant and compact
  • Colorful fall foliage
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Cynophalla flexuosa
Night blooming, fragrant.
  • Colorful fall foliage
  • Elegant appearance
  • Unique, sweet, almond-like flavor
  • Unusual stilt roots
  • Attractive silver-gray foliage
  • Attractive dark green leaves
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Iris savannarum
This iris and I. hexagona were considered to be a single species until recently.  I. savannarum is the most common iris species in Florida. Moist wildflower garden. Sometimes grown under the drain for an air conditioner. Excellent as a wetland edge flower.
  • Sprawling and informal shrub
  • Beautiful silhouette
  • Highly wind tolerant
  • Not recommended
  • Excellent small to medium hedge
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Ximenia americana
May be semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants which makes it challenging to grow. Best planted near a potential host such as an oak. May die back in winter in northern parts of its range, Hedge plant, wildlife plant. Large shrub which can be trained as a tree in the right conditions. Crown is narrow and irregular and the trunks and branches are crooked or twisting.
  • Stunning
  • Wide umbrella-shaped canopy
  • Medium stature
  • Produces aromatic flowers year-round
  • Narrow canopy
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Helianthus heterophyllus
Moist wildflower meadows.
  • Attractive glossy leaves
  • Dark green leaves
  • Wonderfully fragrant at night
  • Moderately drought tolerant
  • Unique and prized
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Magnolia virginiana
The silvery undersides of the leaves are striking. Erroneously listed as a host for palamedes swallowtail butterflies. Palamedes swallowtails only feed on native members of the genus Persea. Specimen plant in moist areas. Rain gardens and bioswales. Wetland tree. In wetlands, it forms clonal thickets making it useful for wetland restoration.
  • Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
  • Attractive silver-gray foliage
  • Heavy feeder
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Crataegus flava
Specimen plant, screen plantings, sometimes with unusual or weeping form.
  • Elegant appearance
  • Tall and stately
  • Showy reddish peeling bark
  • Stately and uncommon
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
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Muhlenbergia capillaris
There are three subspecies included in this description.  Together, they are found in all coastal counties of Florida and many inland ones.  As a grass, it is likely undercollected and it has likely been excluded by many agricultural practices, so at least one of these subspecies is potentially native throughout Florida.  Muhlenbergia capillaris var. capillaris is the subspecies that is most commonly available from nurseries. Hedge, specimen plant, mass planting
  • Unique foliage and silhouette
  • Clusters of tubular flowers
  • Fruit attracts wildlife
  • Can be kept narrow